In case you missed it, leggings have had their day.
The stretchy, skin-tight pants that have powered millennial workouts, school runs, work from home uniforms, and Sunday brunches are now being considered 'daggy.'
According to a slew of recent reports, including Business of Fashion and retail analysis by AI tech company Edited, leggings are sliding out of fashion's favour and into the 'uncool' basket.
Edited's study, bluntly titled 'The Death of Leggings', charted a steady decline in sales and cultural relevance.
It's a generational shift that feels almost personal. For the past two decades, black leggings have been the ultimate panic button in a (predominantly millennial) woman's wardrobe.
The solution to 'I've got nothing to wear' mornings, the fallback for brunch when jeans felt too tight, the safety net for school pick-up, and the Zoom-era trouser of choice when comfort came before presentation.
They were forgiving, practical, and - when paired with an oversized knit, blazer, or even a structured trench - just about presentable enough to be mistaken for actual fashion.
But as Gen Z reshapes the activewear conversation, it seems even the mighty legging has finally met its match.
Are leggings officially out? The stretchy, skin-tight pants that have powered millennial workouts, school runs and work from home uniforms are now being considered 'daggy' according to reports
As Gen Z reshapes the activewear conversation, it seems even the mighty legging has finally met its match.
As seen in retail analysis by AI tech company Edited's findings, the black legging, once untouchable, has gone from everyday essential to fashion faux pas in the space of a few short years.
Perhaps we have Jane Fonda to thank for making legging a fitness essential in the neon-bright aerobics craze of the 1980s.
By the 2010s, they'd officially hit their stride as the beating heart of the athleisure boom.
Lululemon turned buttery leggings into a billion-dollar empire, with slogans promising 'tummy control' and 'booty lift' technology.
But now the tide has turned.
The black legging, once untouchable, has gone from everyday essential to fashion faux pas in the space of a few short years.
We're now seeing women's activewear move in a noticeably looser, more relaxed direction, which is clearly part of a bigger shift towards comfort and versatility.
And Kristen Classi-Zummo, director and apparel analyst for market research firm Circana, agreed.
'We've seen this very heavy activewear influence that accelerated during Covid slow down a little bit, and while comfort remains critical, the [activewear] trend has shifted.'
Fashion trends are now seeing women's activewear move in a noticeably looser, more relaxed direction, which is clearly part of a bigger shift towards comfort and versatility.
Here's what you should be wearing, apparently
Against the backdrop of Gen Z's fashion language, slouchy silhouettes, oversized trousers, and 1990s/Y2K throwbacks, shoppers are rejecting the second-skin aesthetic in favour of looser, more breathable shapes.
Nike has jumped on board with wide-leg styles, including retro-inspired designs that nod to the '70s Windrunner, while Lululemon - once synonymous with second-skin leggings - is expanding its range to include flowy, wide-leg options made for all-day wear.
Streetwear brand Free People is experimenting with hybrids that blur the line between sweatpants and studio gear.
And homegrown labels like Summi Summi are offering elastic-waist patterned pants you can wear from Pilates to the pub without looking like you've just rolled out of reformer class.
Meanwhile, the irony is clear - men never truly adopted Lycra in the same way.
At the gym, they've always defaulted to loose shorts or breathable joggers, leaving women to wrestle with camel toes, opaque squats, and seams that chafe.
Perhaps the gender balance in activewear comfort is finally evening out?
Anti-leggings trousers Gen Z are buying instead
Look 1: Loose, dance-style trousers:
The look is equal parts retro and relaxed complete with an elasticated waistband.
Styled with baby tees or fitted tanks, it’s a nostalgic nod to the past - while a sporty jacket instantly updates it for 2025.
Look 2: Uncuffed Sweatpants:
These are slouchier and strictly straight-leg with pockets.
Styled low on the hips with a simple tank or tee, the look feels laid-back and modern - minus the hassle of cuffs bunching around your ankles.
So, what happens to leggings now?
For shoppers fretting that their leggings are dead, fashion loves a resurrection.
Today's daggy is tomorrow's comeback story. Just ask skinny jeans, once buried by boyfriend denim, only to sneak back into rotation years later.
For now, though, the 'trendy' crowd is favouring oversized parachute pants, and uncuffed sweatpants for a look that screams Sporty Spice - with a dash of 90s girl-band TLC.